Claude l



(No Model.)

' 0. L. HAGEN.

BRACKET FOR FRAMES 0P STAGE SGENBRY.

No. 540,978. Patented June 11, 1895.

[M2222]? lazaielfl NITED STATES- PATENT Fries.

OL'AUDEVL. HAGEN, on NEW YORK, Y,

BRACKET FOR FRAMES OF STAGE-SCENERY.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 540,978, dated June 11, 1895. Application filed April19, 1895. Serial No. 546,439. (No model.)

To on whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CLAUDE L. HAGEN, a citizen of the United States, residing at New York city, in the county of New York and State of New York, have invented new and .useful Improvements in Brackets for the .of the frames in such manneras to avoid weakening any part of the frames; to provide said brackets Withmeans for the attachment of the braces employed for holding the frames in an upright position; and finally to so construct the bracket that fails having rounded edges may be employed, whereby liability of the canvas being cut or the paint abraded is avoided.

To these ends my invention consists in a bracket for the frames of stage scenery. constructed in the manner hereinafter fully described and definitely pointed out in the claims following the description, due reference being bad to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this, specification, wherein- Figure 1 is an elevation of a scene-frame secured together by my improved brackets and illustrating said frame supported in an upright position. Fig. 2 is a perspective view In constructing frames for stage scenery upon which the canvas is stretched, it has been customary to form said frames of uprights 1, (see Fig. 1) which are secured to gether and braced apart by rails 2, the ends of the rails being fitted in correspondingly shaped morti'ses formed in the uprights for their reception, and in order to attach the braces 3 for supporting the frames in an upright position, it has been acommon practice to drive staples into the uprights into which hooks secured'to the upper ends of the braces 3 are inserted. method of construction has been experienced in the necessary weakening of the uprights Serious objection to such elongated fiat plate 4 from one side of which and midway between its ends-projects an ear 5, which is preferably of the samethickness as and lies in the same plane with said plate 4:. From the same side of said plate 4: and from its opposite ends project lugs 6 which are preferably of the same thickness as the ear'5 and which lie in the same plane therewith. Upon the rear side of the plate 4 are cast-flanges 7 which project at right angles to said plate and which are in alignment with each other, and projecting at right angles to the adjacent ends of the flanges 7 and extending transverselyacross' the plate 4 are lugs 8 which are cumted iip from the plate 4 toward each other, their inner faces being approximately semi-circular, for the purpose hereinafter described.

The opposite ends of the plate 4 are provided with perforations 9, for the attachment of the hooks on the braces 3, used to support the frame, and the plate 4, midway between its ends is provided with a countersunk screw hole 10 to permit the insertion therein of a screw'for fastening the plate to the rails of the frame, while the ear 5 is provided with a similar screw hole 11 for securing it to the uprights. The -fianges 7 are also provided with screw holes 12 for the reception ofscre Ws which fasten said flanges to the uprights.

In constructing the frame the uprights 1 and rails 2 are arranged as usual, but instead of forming the rails rectangular in crosssection, as usual, I form them with rounded edges corresponding with the rounded formation of the inner faces of the lugs S. Upon the opposite ends of the rails 2 are fitted the brackets, the end of the rail fitting between 4. The flanges 7 abut squarely against one side of the upright while the ear 5 and lugs 6 project across the adjacent side thereof, the said ear being secured to the upright by a screw passing through the screw hole 11. The rails and uprights are thus firmly and rigidly secured together, the flanges 4, ear 5 and lugs 6 bracing the bracket upon two sides of the uprights, while the lugs 8 brace said bracket upon the opposite edges of the rails, the slightest movement of the rails or uprights relatively one to the other being thus rendered impossible.

By making the inner faces of the lugs 8 semi-circular or rounded, as shown, I am euabled to employ rails having rounded edges, and thus avoid cutting the canvas or abrading the point thereon, as has heretofore resulted from the employment of rails having square corners. The frame thus constructed is set up and supported by the usual braces 3, the hooks of the braces being inserted in the perforations 9 which are thus caused to firmly grasp the brackets, and by which provision the staples heretofore used, and which are objectionable for the reasons before stated, are dispensed with. The lower ends of the braces 3 are secured to the stagein the usual manner.

By means of my improved brackets much laborin constructing the frames is dispensed with, it being unnecessary to form mortises in the uprights which consumes the greater portion of the time in constructing the ordinary frames and which greatly weakens the same. The rails and uprights of the frame are held together with great accuracy and rigidity, and may be put together and taken apart with dispatch, and when set up in position for use may be braced to the stage floor with the greatest stability.

It is usual to brace the scene frames by diagonal corner braces, as 13, and in order to attach said braces to the frames I provide brackets 14, similar in all respects to the brackets before described, excepting that the curved lugs that embrace the ends of the diagonal braces 13 are inclined relatively to the body of the bracket to correspond to the inclination of said braces, and inasmuch as the stage braces are not hooked to said brackets 14, the apertured ends 9, before described, are omitted in the brackets 14.

Having described my invention, what I claim is- 1. A bracket for stage scenery frames, consisting of a plate 4 having projecting from one side thereof and intermediate its ends an ear 5 lying in the same plane with said plate, longitudinal flanges 7 projecting at right angles from the rear face of said plate, parallel lugs 8 extending transversely across the rear face of the plate and at an angle to the said flanges 7, and means for securing said plate and ear to the scene frame, substantially as described.

2. A bracket for stage scenery frames, consisting of a plate 4 having projecting from one side thereof and intermediate its ends an ear 5 and at its opposite ends lugs 6, said ear and lugs lying in the same plane with said plate, longitudinal flanges 7 projecting at right angles from the rear face of said plate, parallel lugs 8 extending transversely across the rear face of the plate and at right angles to the said flanges 7, and means for securing the said plate and ear to the scene frame, substantially as described.

3. A bracket for stage scenery frames, consisting of a plate 4 having projecting from one side thereof and intermediate its ends an ear 5 lying in the same plane with said plate, longitudinal flanges 7 projecting at right angles from the rear faceof said plate,inwardly curved parallel lugs 8 extending transversely across the rear face of the plate and at right angles to the said flanges 7, and means for securing said plate and ear to the scene frame, substantially as described.

4. A bracket for stage scenery frames, consisting of a plate 4 perforated at its opposite ends as shown and having projecting from one side thereof and intermediate its ends an ear 5 lying in the same plane with said plate, longitudinal flanges 7 projecting at right angles from the rear face of said plate, parallel lugs 8, extending transversely across the rear face of the plate and at right angles to the said flanges 7, and means for securing the said plate and ear to the scene.

5. A bracket for stage scenery frames, consisting of a plate 4 perforated at its opposite ends for the engagement therewith of a hooked brace, and having projecting from one side thereof and intermediate its ends an ear 5 lying in the same plane with said plate and provided with a screw-hole for the passage of a screw, longitudinal flanges 7 projecting at right angles from the rear face of said plate inwardly curved parallel lugs 8 extending transversely across the rear face of the plate and at right angles to the said flanges 7, the said plate intermediate said lugs being provided with a screw-hole for the passage of a screw, substantially as shown and described and for the purpose specified.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in presence of two subscribing witnesses.

CLAUDE L. I-IAGEN.

Witnesses:

ERNEST ALBERT, WALTER W. BURRIDGE. 

